NEW YORK, Jan. 05, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BeyondSpring Pharmaceuticals Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of innovative cancer therapies including a Phase III immuno-oncology compound, today announced that data related to an immune-mediated mechanism of action of its lead compound Plinabulin will be presented in a poster presentation at the upcoming special conference, The Function of Tumor Microenvironment in Cancer Progression. The conference is hosted by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and will take place January 7-10, 2016 in San Diego, CA.
BeyondSpring Chief Scientific Officer G. Kenneth Lloyd, Ph.D. will present results of preclinical studies assessing an immune-mediated mechanism of action for Plinabulin. Dr. Lloyd will provide in vitro and in vivo data demonstrating that Plinabulin exerts immune-enhancing effects and act synergistically with IO agents to aid the tumor microenvironment. Full logistical details of the presentations are provided below.
Abstract #A07: Plinabulin: Evidence for an Immune-mediated Mechanism of Action
| Presenter: G. Kenneth Lloyd, Ph.D., BeyondSpring Chief Scientific Officer |
| Poster Session A: Tumor Immune Response |
| Date: Thursday, January 7 |
| Time: 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm PST |
| Location: Hard Rock Hotel; San Diego, CA |
Dr. Lan Huang, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO of BeyondSpring Pharmaceuticals, commented, “We are excited to present our latest findings for our lead compound Plinabulin at this year’s AACR special TME conference focusing on the tumor microenvironment. Plinabulin has been shown in previous studies to target and alter a cancer’s microenvironment via several mechanisms of action and we believe that Plinabulin’s multiple MOA profile that includes vascular disruptive effects combined with these immune-enhancing effects will have broad utility in a variety of cancer types with unmet medical need. We look forward to demonstrating additional clinical evidence for this and sharing our findings with our colleagues in the broader oncology community. Based on the strong preclinical data in combination with IO drugs, BeyondSpring will initiate its Plinabulin/Checkpoint-Inhibitor combination program in 2016.”
About Plinabulin
BeyondSpring’s lead therapeutic candidate, Plinabulin, has begun a Phase III study to treat non-small-cell lung carcinoma (“NSCLC”). This 550-patient clinical trial will be conducted in the United States, China, Australia and New Zealand. Evaluation and enrollment of patients in the U.S. has commenced, with additional sites to be added. The company recently announced that the China Food and Drug Administration (“CFDA”) has given a CTA (Clinical Trial Authorization) for the initiation of the China arm of the study.
Plinabulin has been evaluated in over 140 patients in the U.S. and select international locations. It has demonstrated promising anti-cancer activity in addition to a favorable safety profile. Plinabulin works via multiple mechanisms of action to alter the tumor microenvironment such as: 1) acting as an immuno-oncology agent to induce dendritic cell maturation and generate an amplified immune response to the cancer; 2) activating the JNK pathway to induce tumor cell apoptosis; and 3) obliterating existing tumor vasculature via the destruction of tumor vascular endothelium by inhibiting tubulin polymerization. Plinabulin may be particularly effective against large tumors because of their more abundant tumor vasculature and greater tumor antigen. BeyondSpring is investigating additional clinical programs for Plinabulin in combination with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and for other indications.
About BeyondSpring Pharmaceuticals
BeyondSpring Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of innovative cancer therapies. BeyondSpring is focused on the advancement and commercialization of Plinabulin, a novel, Phase III cancer therapeutic initially targeting non-small-cell lung cancer.
Operationally, BeyondSpring utilizes a unique U.S.-China co-development platform to optimize clinical development speed while reducing costs. The Company has significant experience interacting with the FDA and CFDA. Thus, patient recruitment and clinical trials can be run simultaneously in both geographies, which offers the potential to substantially lower the cost of drug discovery/development and increase the speed of advancing novel therapies to clinical trials and, ultimately, to the market.
The Company has additional next-generation immuno-oncology assets, as well as a technology platform for targeted drugs and at least 6 new development compounds per year through a recently established 5 year research collaboration with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
Led by an expert management team consisting of pharmaceutical industry veterans from the U.S. and China, the Company is well positioned to further advance lead product candidate, Plinabulin, and its other programs. For more information, visit www.beyondspringpharma.com.
CONTACT: Contact: The Ruth Group Lee Roth (investors) lroth@theruthgroup.com (646) 536-7012 Kirsten Thomas (media) kthomas@theruthgroup.com (508) 280-6592
